Bedfordshire
On Sunday

Centenary
memorial service marred by 'bomb plot' - 22nd February 2005

A
MEMORIAL service for a Bedford naval officer killed when
one of the world's first submarines blew up in Ireland
100 years ago was the target of an alleged bomb plot this
week.

Sub
Lieutenant Frederick Charles Skinner, 21, and five of
his shipmates died when the A5 sub, known as HMS Mars,
exploded while being refuelled with petrol in Cork Harbour
on February 13, 1905.

Several
relatives of the victims travelled to the Irish city for
a wreath-laying ceremony last Sunday to remember the dead.

British
and Irish navy officials were present along with Cork's
Mayor, Cllr Sean Martin, while HMS Richmond (pictured),
one of the Royal Navy's biggest frigates, berthed in the
harbour.

But
on Monday a man appeared in court accused of possessing
two petrol bombs with intent to cause criminal damage.

Terence
O'Brien, 34, from Blackpool, Cork, was remanded on 100
euros bail until March 15 by the city's district court.

The
judge was told he was unlikely to reoffend because now
HMS Richmond had left Cork the problem has 'gone away'.

Hearing

A
number of people described as O'Brien's 'supporters' were
in court for the short hearing.

Sub
Lieut Skinner's body was returned to Bedford after the
submarine tragedy and he was buried with full military
honours.

His
five shipmates were buried at the Old Church cemetery
in Cobh, where a large block of granite is now being carved
into a memorial to them. The ill-fated submarine, which
carried four torpedoes, had only been commissioned into
service two days before the accident.

A
spark from an electric ventilation fan is believed to
have ignited fuel vapour.

The
force of the blast was so great that several of the dead
were blown clean through the sub's hatch into the water.